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Overview

This visa, valid for three years, replaced the Skilled – Independent Regional (subclass 495) visa and the Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored (subclass 496) visa on 01 September 2007.

Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa holders can apply for a permanent Skilled – Regional visa once they have lived for two years and worked full-time for one year in a specified regional area of Australia.

This visa is assessed by a points system, with 65 points required to pass.

Eligibility

A number of requirements must be met to receive an onshore Skilled Regional Sponsored (subclass 487) visa.

Sponsorship

Applicants for this visa must be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or a State/Territory government.

Required Visas

Either a Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B granted because a valid application for a visa other than an ineligible student visa has been made or a substantive visa other than an ineligible student visa -- and the applicant has held an eligible student visa for the last six months

Age and Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the following English language requirements competent English.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must nominate an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). The applicant must also have applied for a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for the applicant's nominated occupation.

The applicant must also have either:

met the two year study requirement in the last six months with Australian qualifications closely related to their nominated occupation; or